While our news media has been busy attempting to impress us with perverted notions of heroism, many of our children have been influenced to accept cowards and confused people as examples of noble and heroic lifestyles. When a culture's children can no longer identify true heroes, and when they have been influenced to confuse heroism with anything less than what it truly is, we have lost our children. Heroes that inspire to noble character and the giving of one's life for another, have been the bedrock of our culture's foundation. Jesus set the standard when he gave his life for those who not only did not deserve it, but often did not appreciate it. Long before Christ, as well as for centuries afterward, wise parents have taught children that there is no greater love nor greater hero than one who would selflessly give his life in an ultimate sacrifice or would daily offer it to those in need around him. Great heroes of the past have been those who gave all...those who weren't afraid to give their lives for those who might never be able to thank them, and for those who might never even appreciate it.
If you want to influence your children on what a true hero is, I suggest you start with a news story that barely made waves. Last week, ten people demonstrated with the sacrifice of their lives what a true hero is, and I will make sure that my children hear about them. I will probably sit down during our family quiet time together and begin with a question something like this. "Did you know that young people not much older than you are still giving their lives for something worthwhile, something noble, and something that will matter forever?" And then, I will tell the story that our news almost totally missed...
Last week, ten aid workers gave their lives for needy people, and they knew they might lose their lives before they ever left their comfortable homes, but they did it anyway. One was a successful dentist, one walked away from a surgeon's salary, another was an optometrist, while another was a young women in her early thirties who left comfort and the hopes of marriage to give her life for those who live in the darkness of poverty and repression. They gave their lives helping the friends, family, and countrymen of those who massacred them without asking a single question.
These are true heroes, and it is our responsibility as parents to set them and those like them as bench marks for our children. If we allow popular culture to influence our children into thinking that "courage" is what is displayed by Mr. Jenner or "Beauty" by the Kardashian empire, we have missed the opportunity of a lifetime. Let's not miss the opportunity to influence the future by impressing our children with the truth that courage was displayed last week.
"Courage" was displayed when those who had everything, heard about a need they could fill. It was modeled for us when they heard the need, walked out of their offices, left their six figure incomes, and walked on to the streets of a country where people hated them, but where people needed them. Courage is still displayed in the lives of those who see a need, whether it is in a far off land, or is right here in front of us. It may be a mother courageously caring day after day for a special needs child. It may be an elderly person daily facing the challenges of aging and wearing a bright smile. It may be something dramatic that the world might see and recognize or it may simply be the sacrifice of daily doing what should be done whether one feels like it or not.
"Beauty" was demonstrated last week when women with beautifully manicured hands stepped off a plane and walked among the dusty and dirty houses of those who have endured decades of war simply because they happened to be born there. Beauty is still displayed by those who spend less time beautifying themselves and more time bringing beauty into the lives of others. Beauty is seen in the aging hands of grandparents and in the stretch marks of mothers. Beauty often doesn't look beautiful.
"Sacrifice" was exemplified last week when they freely left it all and gave everything they had to reach a people who could never repay them.
Sacrifice, beauty, and courage are still being displayed and it is our duty as parents to make sure our children know what it truly is. If we do our job well, they will see and recognize it in those forgotten news stories. They will appreciate it on display in the lives of those around them, and we pray they will too have the courage to live it and while not seeking to give the ultimate sacrifice, may willingly follow our example to live lives of true heroism.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/world/asia/10aidworkers.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0
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